"Karnataka IAS officer transferred days after warning employers against pay cuts", 12 May 2020

The controversial transfer of a Karnataka IAS officer...was allegedly triggered by differences with state labour minister Shivaram Hebbar and pressure from industry bodies...

IAS officer Captain P. Manivannan, who held the post of principal secretary, labour department, and additional charge of the information and public relations department, was coordinating multiple Covid-19 relief efforts when he was transferred...

In his role as labour secretary, Manivannan oversaw several crucial efforts, including starting the unique volunteer-based “Corona Sainikas (warriors)” initiative to bust fake news surrounding Covid-19.

He also threatened action against local employers who withheld workers’ wages.

Sources in the labour department said the initiative rubbed employers off the wrong way, adding that Manivannan was set to issue around 900 notices before he was transferred.  

He also earned the ire of local politicians after he allegedly refused to let them participate in foodgrain distribution as part of lockdown relief operations for migrant labourers, the sources said...